Baked potatoes are delicious, but they can be time-consuming and difficult to cook correctly. If you’re tired of trying to make them perfect in the oven, here’s how to make sure they’re not undercooked or burned every time—and no, it doesn’t involve wrapping them in foil! With this simple baking technique, you can create perfectly cooked, evenly cooked baked potatoes every time.
Step 1: Buy Good Potatoes
Potatoes can be an easy and delicious side dish, but it’s important to know how to make them properly. There are two main ways you can bake potatoes–in the oven or with boiling water on the stovetop. It all depends on your preference for texture and desired finished product. For example, if you want crispy skin and fluffy insides, then baking is best.
If you want your potatoes creamy with drier skin, then boiling is best. When it comes to the quality of potatoes, look for potatoes that are firm and have no sprouts coming out of them. You should also avoid any that have green patches. Once you find the right potato, rinse it off under cold water to get rid of excess starch before using.
Step 2: Preparing the Potatoes
-Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
-Place potatoes, skin side down, on a baking sheet.
-Bake for 45 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
-Remove from oven and let stand for five minutes before serving.
Step 3: Choose a Bake Setting
The bake set will determine how crispy your potato will be. The higher the bake setting, the crunchier your potato. In most cases, you’ll want to choose 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) or 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). You can also choose 425 degrees F (220 degrees C) for crispy skin with some soft interior flesh. If this is what you’re after, give it 15-20 minutes and check on it every five minutes.
Step 4: Don’t Burn Them!
It’s important to resist the temptation of taking them out too soon, as this may cause them to dry out. If you think they might be done, test one with a fork before taking them out of the oven. The potato should feel soft when pressed and offer little resistance from being pierced. You’ll know it is ready if it is easy to push through. However, some potatoes will be stubborn and refuse to give way without breaking in two.
I usually keep these on for an extra five minutes just to make sure they are fully cooked on the inside. By then, the outside has browned nicely, becoming crisp and caramelized. The skin will also be crisp, but not hard or brittle like with frying – so that part is still pretty great! They’re usually ready by around 30-35 minutes depending on how large your potatoes are (I prefer mine small). Be careful not to overcook them – because that would result in a mushy mess of mashed potato-like substance instead of deliciously fluffy white ones.
When testing whether or not the potato is done, insert a fork about 2 cm deep into the center of the potato until it meets no resistance. Remove it quickly to avoid burning yourself and carefully check to see if there’s any clumping or wetness left behind on the tines of your fork. A properly baked spud should come clean after such testing, while any remaining moisture suggests more baking time is needed. A lot of people do not realize how simple making a perfect baked potato can be!
Step 5: Eat with Sides
A baked potato by itself is just not enough. With all of that yummy butter and sour cream, you need something to pair with it! Try these side dishes: -Cheesy broccoli quinoa. This is a healthy dish that will leave you feeling full without feeling too heavy. –
Bacon green beans and corn. These crispy veggies are perfect for those who want to indulge in some flavor! They go great with potatoes and provide extra crunch. -Pepperoni pizza dip. This dip is so delicious, it will make your mouth water just thinking about it! Top off your meal with this decadent treat for the ultimate experience.
Conclusion
Cooking a potato in the oven is much easier than cooking it on the stovetop or using an electric or gas range. It’s also hands-free, which is good if you’re busy doing something else while your potatoes cook. But once they’re done, they can go from done to overdone very quickly.
Don’t let that happen! Give your baked potatoes plenty of time to cool down before you peel them. If you try to peel them right away, you’ll tear off chunks of potato along with the skin and end up with unappetizing-looking potatoes. And make sure not to cut into them until they’re nice and cool!
Also, check out the latest articles “Can you freeze cream cheese” and “Russet potato recipes“
Hi I’m Bilal Malik, a digital marketing and blogging expert holding years of experience.
